Winter Olympics Update: NBC Is In the Pink

With ratings guarantees nailed down, network begins selling inventory held back for ADUs

While the conjunctivitis-plagued Bob Costas may not look back fondly on the 2014 Winter Olympics, Sochi’s stellar ratings performance has left NBC’s ad sales team in the pink.

According to NBC Sports Group chairman Mark Lazarus, the network has begun making available inventory it had originally held back in case it found itself having to make up for any ratings shortfalls.

Speaking from Sochi during a Wednesday night conference call (or around 2:30 p.m. EST), Lazarus confirmed that some of the inventory held back for ADUs has been “freed up,” adding that NBC Sports Group ad sales chief Seth Winter and NBCUniversal ad sales president Linda Yaccarino are now selling those spots at a premium.

“It’s a prime-time rate card,” Lazarus said, without providing any specifics on pricing.

AW+

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

To Read the Full Story Become an Adweek+ Subscriber

View Subscription Options

Already a member? Sign in